Process of and apparatus for producing light hydrocarbons.



J. E. HOLMES. PROQESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGHT HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-31,1915.

QGOOOOOOO I 51mm j /a/Wza Patented Qct. 2,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. E. HOLMES. PROCESS OF AND APPARAT US FOR PRODUCING LIGHT HYDROCARBONS.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3|. [91 5- LZQLQ'YQQ ."retus, and one that will efiect a thorough JOSEPH E. HOLMES, OF CUSHING, OKLAHOMA.

EBOGESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING LIGH'I HYDBOCABBONS.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn E. Holmes, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cushing, in the county of Payne and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Producing Light Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a process of and apparatus for producing gasolene and naphtha from petroleum oil and petroleum 'oil dilstillates, such as kerosene, gas oil and wax o1 One object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus whichwill yield a larger amount of gasolene or na htha from a given amount of petroleum Oil or petroleum oil distillate than is possible with ordinary processes and apparatus.

Another object'is to provide a process and apparatus for carrying out" and completing the production of gasolene and kerosene in a single continuous operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an economical process and appaseparation of the lighter oils from the heavier products and quality of kerosene.

In the drawin s hereto annexed, and forming a part 0 this specification Figure 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view, partly, in elevation and partly in section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the expansion drum. a n

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View of the same. In the practicalcarrying out of thepresent invention, I provide a primary retort or heater 1, heated from a suitable furnace 2, and embodying a coil of pipe of suitable length and diameter. Connected with the terminals of this coil are conducting pipes '3 and 4.. The intake pipe 3 serves as a combined conductin and mixing conduit, in which the petro eum oil or petroleum oil distillate employed is commingled with natural gas, the oil and gas being forced through the pipe 3 to the coil 1 by means of suitable pumps 5 and 6, a meter T being provided in the intake pipe for indicating the amount'of the oil umped to the coil, and suitable gages 8 being arranged in, the

branches of said pipe leading from the re.-

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

. spective produce a superior um s for indicating the pressure of the oil and gas.

The mixture of oil and gas forced into the'coil 1, in the ratio of two volumes of gas to one volume of oil, is subjected therein, while under comparatively high pressure, to a comparatively high temperature, all the U lighter volatiles being thereby vaporized in the coil and placed under high tension and pressure. In practice, the pressure in the retort 1 is varied from 50 t0 100 pounds per square inch depending on the temperature, which is maintained at from 750 to 1100v degrees Fahn, depending on the density of the oil to be cracked.

From the coil the vapors and gas discharge throughthe-outlet pipe 4 and pass to an expansion and separator drum 9, a

vpyrometer 10 and a gage 11 being provided in the pipe 4 to indicate the temperature and pressure,,while also in. said pipe is provided a pressure regulator 12, by means of which the pressure of the vapor and gas flowing to the expansion drum may be governed and the pressure and tension of the Patented 0on2, 1917.

' Application filed August 81, 1915. Serial No; 4.8.318.

vapor and gas within the drum regulated to an desired degree.

ii he drum 9 comprises a cylindrical vessel having at its top an inlet 13 with which the pipe 4 is connected, and an outlet 14, and having at its bottom a drain pipe 15 havinga controlling valve 16 therein, which pipe may form part of a pumping line, for forcing the heavier products into any suitable receiver. The inlet 13 and, outlet 14 are separated by a vertically dispesed baffle 17, whereby the vapor and gas entering the expansion drum are caused" to pass downwardly into said drum and are prevented from taking a'direct outlet through the outlet or discharge connection. The vapor and gases passing into the drum are thereby caused to expand under adiabatic conditions and are thereby relieved of compression,

lighter and more volatile constituents and gas remainin a vaporous and gaseous state, owing to their high temperature, and d1$- charge through the outlet 14.

i As stated, the pressure in the retort 1 may va from 50 to 100 pounds er square inch anii the temperature from 50 degrees to I cipitate all of the heavy constituents. This intimate mixture of its components.

result the pressure .of the mixture will also higher temperature and pressure is secured by the use of the pressure regulator 12, which confines the mixture in the retort, by establishing a resistance to its discharge, whereby the mixture is kept confined until heated to a degree higher than that required foil31L the be raised until its temperature and pressure reach the proper stages to place the mixture in condition for adiabatic expansion, at which time the pressure ofthe mixture will be suflicient to overcome the resistance of the regulator 12 and the mixture will discharge from the retort and enter and expand adiabatically within the expansion drum.

The vapors and gas discharge through the outlet 14 pass through a pipe 18 to a rimary condensing coil 19 arranged within a suitably cooled condensing box or chamber 20, in which coil the vapors are condensed, as will be readily understood. From the coil 19 the condensate and gas pass into a separator 21, in which the noncondensible gas is separated from the condensate, the condensate discharging through a pipe 22 containing a controlling valve 23, while'the gas discharges through a pipe 24 having a controlling valve 25, through which pipe the gas may be conducted to any suitable point. In the present instance, the pipe 24 is shown as leading-back to the retort furnace 2 for the purpose of-utiliiing the gas as a fuel agent for heating purposes. v

Ihe pipe 22 leads to a pair of secondary stills 26 and 27 and is provided with valves 28 and 29 for controlling the flow of the condensate to' the respective stills. As shown, the stills 26 and 27 may be arranged within and heated from a common furnace 30, which may be of any preferred type, and the st lls may be provided with a common dram pipe ,31 having a draw-off valve or cock 32, whereby the heavier particles or any residue remaining therein after distlllation may be discharged and provision made for cleaning out'the stills whenever required. Arrangedwithin the condenser box'or casin'g'2O are secondary condensers 33 and 34:, the condenser 33 being connected with the still 26 through a valved vapor conducting pipe 3 5, while the still 27 is connected with the condenser 34 through a valved conducting pipe and 38 to a. receiving house or point 39 and thence intotanks or other receptacles 40 and 41 in which the finished gasolene and kero'-' sene are stored. It will, of course, be understood that the condensate from the separator 21 may first be distilled in'the still 26, and the gasolene condensed in the condenser 33, and that the residuum from the still 26 may then be conducted into the still 27 to distil off the kerosene, which may be condensed in the condenser 3 It will be seen that my improved process provides for the commingling with the oil or distillate. under treatment of natural gas, which contains a proportion of gasolene capable of being liberated under adiabatic compression, and that by the use of this gas the mixture when heated will be vaporized under high tension and pressure. As a re-{ sult, the molecules of matter composing the oil are more thoroughly broken, thus changing their atomic weights and by reason of the great expansion of the mixture more efficiently separating the'fine solid carbona ceous .matter, with a result that there is a greater separation of the molecules forming the lighter hydrocarbons, such as naphtha,

gasolene and kerosene, resulting in a much greater yield of the substances. Furthermore, by separating these liquids by adiabatic ressure, a more complete separation o the lighter hydrocarbons from the heavier products will be afi'ected. It will, ofvcourse, be understood that in this process all of the condeh'sate from the separator may be .conducted to both secondary stills and the asolene and kerosene vapors separated an successively distilled ofi and condensed, and that after the oil has been once treated, if it should be desired not to make any kerosene, the remaining .oil after the gasolene has been primarily taken 05 can berepeatedly put through the-process until nothing remains but tar and gasolene. In this process a peculiar cracking of the oil is efiected, as set forth owing to the great expansibility of the gas when heated and the capability of the petroleum oil to absorb gas when mixed therewith and introducedand treated in the retort 1 under high pressure and temperature. The gas, by reason of its expansibility, keeps the retortl full at all times and keeps the oil moving to the surface of the coil pipe. Under such conditions in theretort 1 no op portunity is afforded for the tar and sand to stop and adhere to the pi e, which would cause the oil to scorch an burn andleave ing through the retort.

' cracked oils is their disagreeable odor and the obstruction to the retort when the sediment and tar are allowed to stick to the retort, and burn into a hard scale or cake. By treatin the oil in the resence of gas I ehminate t e bad odor and increase the life of the retort in an obvious manner.

I claim 1. Ana paratus for producin gasolene or other li e light hydrocarbons rom a petroleum oil or lstillate comprising a retort means for supplying measured quantities 0 a petroleum oil or distillate and natural gas to said retort, means for heating the retort to raise the temperature and pressure of themixture to a high de ree, an expansion chamber in communication with the retort for the expansion of the mixture therein so as to condense and precipitate the heavier constituents, means in the line of communication between thenretortand expansion chamber for maintaining a predetermined pressure inthe retort, and permitting flow of the mixture to the expansion chamber when such pressure is exceeded, and means for separating the gas and heavy products from the lighter volatiles and condensing and collecting the latter. 1

2. The hereindescribed process of produ ing gasolene or other like light volatile hydrocarbon from petroleum oil or distillates, which consists in distilling a mixture of the oil or distillate with natural gas under a high temperature, whereby to raise the temperature and pressure of the mixture, causing expansion of the mixture under adiabatic conditions, separating the heavier from the lighter and more volatile constituents, and then condensing and separating the vapors.

3. An apparatus for use in producing gasolene or like light hydrocarbons from a 'petroleum oil or distillate comprising a retort, means for. supplying a" mixture of a petroleum oil or distillate with a predetermined quantity of natural gas to said retort, whereby to vaporize the oil and place the mixture under high temperature and pressure, means for causing expansion of the mixture under adiabatic conditions, and means for condensing and separating the vapors.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH HOLMES.

Witnesses:

W. C. RICE, J. M. RICE. 

